We must stand strong against vandals – Seery-Kearney

A Fine Gael Senator has said we must stand strong against those who would vandalise our community facilities.

Mary Seery Kearney, the Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Children, was speaking after the news that a children’s playground was badly damaged by fire in the new Weaver Park off Cork Street in Dublin.

Senator Seery-Kearney said, “Weaver Park is a really valued public space with a skate park and children’s playground. It is heart-breaking to see deliberate destruction of a play space that is so cherished by the local community.

“This is not the first playground to be targeted by vandalism and arson. We must tackle head-on this small cohort who are content to undermine the quality of life of a whole community. We must stand strong against these vandals and show them that this kind of act will not be tolerated.

“We now need to see a concerted urgent response from Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána that provides intense policing to restore safety and security to this lovely community.

“Fine Gael is working to build stronger safer communities and in Budget 2023 we prioritised significant investment in An Garda Síochána to ensure the provision of 1,000 new Gardaí and 400 new Garda staff, which will allow for more high visibility policing.

“The Community Safety Innovation Fund was launched earlier this year by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to allow proceeds of crime to be directed into community projects to support community safety. This Fund is set to receive €3 million in funding for 2023”, concluded Senator Seery-Kearney.